Match-safe



2 Sheets-Sheet 1L F. HARDY.

MATCH SAFE (No Model) No. 596,404. Patented Dec: 28,1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets.Sh'ee2.

P. HARDY. MATCH SAFE.

No. 596,404. Patented Dec, 28,1897.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK HARDY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

M ATC H SA F E SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,404, dated December 28, 1897. Application filed October 22, 1896. Serial No. 609,733. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HARDY, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Match-Safe, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to matchsafes, and more particularly to one from which the matches are fed one at a time, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and efficient device which will prevent more than one match being fed at a time, and, furthermore, will prevent the matches from clogging.

Another object is to provide against any partial movement of the parts by locking the said parts, so that a complete operation is necessary in order to return the parts to their normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable scratching device in connection with the delivery-tubewhereby as the match is drawn out it will be ignited.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking top in order to prevent tampering with the device.

Another object is to provide for the even and steady feed of the matches, whereby the efficient operation of the device is insured.

With these various objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the various parts and in their novel combination or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isan interior perspective view, one side of the box or case being removed. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the hinged stop-board. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the slotted guide-plate. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the plunger and attached parts. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the rake. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the end of the inclined feed-board.

In carrying out my invention I employ a box or case A, provided with a top or cover B, which cover slides in grooves in the upper edges of the sides and is locked therein by means of a suitable spring-rod, which springrod is released, when desired, by means of a key introduced in the keyhole G.

The box or case A is constructed with a false bottom D, said false bottom having a transverse recess or channel E, in which works a plunger F, having the head G at the rear end, and between the said head and the opposite side of the case is arranged a coilspring H, surrounding said plunger-rod. A flat spring I is secured in the bottom of the recess or channel E and at its'rear end is provided with an upward ly-projecting tongue K, and adjacent to the rear end said spring is formed with an upward bend or offset portion L, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. A presser-finger M is arranged upon the rear end of the head G, said finger projecting up above the head and sliding inthe slot N, pro 'duced in the guide-plate N, said slot N extending to a point near the forward end of the plate. Parallel with the slot N is a shorter slot N throughwhich pass the beveled depending fingers N formed upon the lower end of the inclined feed-board N the upper end of said board being rigidly attached to the end of the box or case and upon which the matches are adapted to rest while held within the safe. Upwardly-projecting lugs N are formed upon the opposite side of the slot, said lugs being preferably punched up from the body of the guide-plate N.

It will of course be understood that there is anopening O in the side of the case at the forward end of the guide-plate, and upon the exterior of the case is arranged the delivery chute or tube 0', having the spring 0 in the bottom thereof, which is adapted to press the head of the match against the roughened surface 0 produced upon the top of the deliverytube, so that as the match is drawn from the delivery-chute the head engaging the roughened surface 0 will be ignited.

Now it is clear that as thus far described the matches placed ,upon the inclined feedboard will gravitate to the guide-plate and will be stopped by means of the lugs N and as the plunger is drawn outwardly the presserfinger will contact with the match and force the same through the opening 0 and delivery chute or tube 0'.

is secured to the lower edge of the board P,

said .plate having a shoulder P near the lower end and a shoulder P near the forward end, said shoulders being produced by the cut-out portions P P, respectively, and at the rear end of the plate is provided a catch-finger P which is adapted to engage the finger K upon the end of the spring-plate I. The lower end of the fall-board P is normally held by a spring Q, so that the plate P will close the slot of the guide-plate and prevent the match falling therethrough, the forward movement of the lower end of the board being limited by means of the lugs N which also limit the rearward movement of the matches.

In order to insure the even and steady feed of the matches along the feed-board, I em ploy a rake R, consisting, essentially,of a plate having the forward end thereof bent down toward the feed-plate, as shown at R, the opposite end of said plate having a T-shaped head R adapted to engage the slot R produced in the fall-board and extending nearly to the lower end thereof, by means ofwhich the said rake is given a backward-and-forward movement as the fall-board P is swung back and forth upon its pivots, and in order to hold the rake down upon the matches, I provide a spring R which is attached to the top of the plate near the forward end, the opposite end of said spring bearing against the top of the box, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Now in operation the cover is unlocked, opened, and the matches placed upon the inclined feed-board N and the rake placed in position upon the top of said matches. The cover of the box is then replaced and locked, and the device is ready for use. The normal position of the fall-board P, against which the matches fall, is such that the plate? upon the bottom of said board covers the slotted portion of the guide-plate, thereby preventing the matches falling into the said slot. When it is desired to draw a match from the safe, the knob or rod upon the forward end of the plunger is grasped and pulled outwardly, which movement causes the presser-finger M at the end of the plunger to come in contact with the lowest match, carrying the said match forward and projecting the same through the opening 0 into the delivery chute or tube 0. As the plunger is moved forwardly the fall-board moves toward the end of the inclined feed-board, being so employed by means of the spring Q that it is impossible for another match to fall upon the guide-plate.- As the head of the plunger is moved forward it contacts with the dependin g beveled teeth formed upon the end of the feed-board, and consequently vibrates the said feed-board sufficiently to cause the matches to roll down the same. At the same time the rake is agitated, inasmuch as it is connected with the fall-board, so that as the said board moves the rake is also moved, and this movement taking place simultaneously with the movement of the feed-board insures the steady and even feed of the matches toward the guide-plate. A complete movement of the plunger causes the match to be forced partially through the delivery tube, said match being held in such position by means of the spring 0 and by grasping the end of the match with the fingers and drawing the same through the delivery-tube the head will be ignited, inasmuch as it will contact with the roughened or abrasive surface 0 formed upon the interior of the delivery-tube. Then the plunger is moved forward and the fallboard swung into operation so as to close the opening, the end of the spring I passes under the rearwardly-projecting tongue upon the end of the plate P in which position the shoulder P prevents the return of the plunger, which cannot be returned to place until it is drawn completely outward, after which it can be readily returned to its normal position, inasmuch as the head of the plunger coming in contact with the shoulder P thereby moves the fall-board sufficiently to permit the end of the spring I to engage the projecting tongue upon the end of the plate P which holds the fall-board in such position that the plunger-head can pass the shoulder P in returning to place. After one match has been withdrawn and the channel has been opened by the return of the plunger to place, another match drops into position to be withdrawn, the closing of the channel during the withdrawal of a'match making it impossible for more than one match at a time to get into the channel.

It will be also understood that the top of the box or case can be of glass.

Furthermore, instead of attaching the box or case rigidly to a base or rigid object, it can be so attached as to have a slight movement whereby the box or case can be shaken slightly in order to facilitate the feeding of the matches whenever desired.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap and simple device, capable of easy and accurate operation, and one in which all of the parts perform their various functions in a highly-efficient manner.

It will also be noticed that I provide a safe from which only one match can be withdrawn at a time, and also a match-safe which will absolutely prevent clogging and accidents of any kind whatever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a match-safe, the combination with the box or case of the feed-plunger working thereon, the inclined feed-board, the pivoted fall-board and the rake connected with the fall-board, said fall-board, rake and feedboard being operated by the movement of the feed-plunger, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a match-safe, the combination with the box or case of the feed-plunger working therein, the inclined feed board, the fallboard having a groove in the lower edge and provided with a plate having a plurality of shoulders thereon, the presser finger and spring all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

3. In a match-safe, the combination with a box or case of the plunger arranged therein, having a presser-finger at the rear end of the head of said plunger, the base-spring having a tongue projecting upwardly from the rear end thereof, the slotted guide-plate having the stop-lugs, fall-board having a groove at the lower edge, the plate arranged upon the bottom of the fall-board and having a plurality of shoulders and cut-out portions, the inclined feed-board and the rake connecting with the fall-board adapted to lie upon the matches and hold them upon the feed-board, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a match-safe, the combination with the box or case of the inclined feed-board having the depending teeth, the plunger having a head provided with the presser-finger, the slotted guide-plate having the stop-lugs, the base-spring having upwardly-projecting finger or tongue, the pivoted fall-board having a groove in the lower edge, the plate attached to said lower edge and having a plurality of shoulders and cut-out portions, the spring bearing upon the lower end of said fallboard, said fall-board being slotted as described, the rake having a T-shaped head adapted to engage the said slot and provided with the spring adapted to hold the said rake in place upon the matches and the deliverychute or tongue having an abrasive surface, all of said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

FREDERICK HARDY. Witnesses:

CHAS. E. BROOK, W. L. BRUEN. 

